Bible Verses About the Ocean: 12 Scriptures for Beach Days and Stormy Seasons
Standing at the edge of the ocean has a way of making a person feel small and, strangely, held. The Bible is full of the sea, and it uses it to say two things at once: God is far bigger than anything we face, and He is near to the people who trust Him. Here are twelve verses about the ocean (King James Version), with a short note on each.
God made the sea
“The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 95:5
Every wave that reaches the shore belongs to the One who shaped it. This verse is a good one to read out loud at the beach.
“And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:10
The ocean was not an afterthought. God looked at the seas at creation and called them good.
“So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.” Psalm 104:25
Tide pools, kelp forests and whales are all part of the same song. The psalmist marvels at how much life God keeps going beneath the surface.
God is mightier than the waves
“The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.” Psalm 93:4
If you have ever stood near heavy surf, you know how loud the water is. This verse says God is greater than even that. It is a comfort when your own circumstances feel loud.
”…which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?” Jeremiah 5:22
God set the sand as the boundary of the sea. The waves rage, but only as far as He allows.
God calms the storm
“He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” Psalm 107:29
Psalm 107 describes sailors caught in a storm who cry out to God and are rescued. If you are in a season that feels like open water with no shore in sight, this is the verse to pray.
“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39
Jesus’s disciples were terrified. Jesus was asleep in the boat. Then He spoke, and the sea obeyed. It is one of the clearest pictures in the Gospels of who He is.
God is with you in deep water
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.” Isaiah 43:2
Notice that the promise is not that you will avoid the water. It is that you will not pass through it alone.
“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:9-10
There is no distance from shore far enough to be outside God’s reach.
Hope, anchored
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast.” Hebrews 6:19
Anchors are a favorite symbol for coastal Christians for good reason. An anchor does not stop the waves. It keeps the boat from drifting. Hope in Christ works the same way.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Sit on the sand, watch the tide come in, and let this verse do its work.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalm 19:1
Sunrise over the water is one of the best places to remember this one.
Frequently asked questions
Carry these verses with you
Many of these passages also make meaningful designs for shirts, mugs and prints. If you would like Scripture you can wear to the beach, take a look at our coastal Bible verse collection on Etsy.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about the ocean?
The Bible says God created the seas, rules over them, and is present with His people even in deep water. Psalm 95:5 says the sea belongs to God, Psalm 93:4 says He is mightier than the waves, and Isaiah 43:2 promises His presence when we pass through the waters.
What is the best Bible verse about the ocean?
Many people love Psalm 107:29, "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still," for hard seasons, and Psalm 95:5, "The sea is his, and he made it," for celebrating creation on a beach day.
Why does Revelation say there will be no more sea?
Revelation 21:1 says that in the new heaven and new earth "there was no more sea." Many Bible teachers read this as a symbol: in the biblical world the sea often stood for chaos and danger, so its absence points to a future without fear or death. Others take it more literally. Faithful Christians differ on this.